Apparatus for and method of curling longitudinal edges of strips of deformable strip material



P 7, 1953 a. J. PHILIPPI 2,633,893

- APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CURLING LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF STRIPS OF DEFORMABLE STRIP MATERIAL Filed Dec. 3, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR f'd/Pi' J n/a m 1.

TTORNEYS 4%,, iL-rogg wm P" 7,-1953 A g G. J. PHILIPPI APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF cuaum; LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF swans 0F DEFORMABLE STRIP MATERIAL Filed Dec. 3, i949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I T i 4 T1 7 5/ .J///////////////////////////fi/////////////// INVENTOR from: J Ava/pm 68 BY ATTORNEYS Apnl 7, .1953 cs. J. PHILIPPI 2,633,893

APPARATUS FOR AND memos 0F cuRLINc LONGITUDINAL I EDGES 0F STRIPS 0F DEFORMABLE STRIP MATERIAL Filed Dec. 5, 1949 3'She'ets-Sheet s INVENTOR $5024: J. 84/; mm.

aim, Q MM ORNEYS Patented Apr. 7, 1953 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CUR-LING LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF STRIPS OF DE- FORMABLE STRIP MATERIAL George J. Philippi, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Dynoflow Solder Corporation, Long Island, N. Y., a. corporation of New York Application December 3, 1949, Serial No. 130,884

2'7 Claims.

This application is a continuation in part of applicants application Serial No. 44,368, filed August 14., 1948, which application is now abandoned. The present invention relates to appa ratus for and method of curling longitudinal edges of strips of deformable strip material; and, more particularly, to embodiments of such apparatus adapted automatically in a progressive manner with continuous draft of such strips through the apparatus to form one or more turns, or desired fractions thereof, in or roll up either or both edges toward the strip center, and the unique method of doing so as may be practiced by operations of various embodiments of the apparatus.

Prior to the present invention many difierent types of devices have been designed and employed to form one or more turns, or even less than a full turn, about a longitudinal axis, in elongated strips of sheet material, such as metal, e. g., lead, brass, copper, metal alloys, etc. Male and female die rollers, drawing dies with central mandrels and other means feature such devices adapted for forming hollow pipe. However, with cooperating male and female dies longitudinal curling therewith is limited to about a hundred and eighty degree (180") turn after which a three hundred and sixty degree (360) turn may be formed by drawing through a circular die without the use of a central mandrel if the longitudinal edges are abutted during drawing. If more than one turn is to be formed at least the last of a series of drawing dies must be equipped with a central mandrel which in turn limits the length of the product which can be formed in one operation. Such operations are entirely unsuited to formation in such strip material of one or more rolls each of a plurality of turns where no appreciable space .is to be left centrally of such roll, and particularly where such strip is to befaced with a fluid or plastic coating intended to be entrapped and retained interiorly in certain minimum quantity per unit length, as in the production of fiuxed solder rod disclosed and claimed in the pending application of Crowell and. Philippi, Serial No. 20,294, filed April 10, 1948, now Patent No. 2,565,477, granted August 28, 1851. The fluidity or plastic nature of flux material makes it incapable of transmitting or resisting any pressure until wholly confined and thus most prior art curling procedures unfortunately result in excessive squeeze-out with production of an inferior oriunsuitable product.

{Ageneral object of the present invention is to provide; mechanism which is readily and economically manufactured and easily and simply operated efficiently to form automatically at relatively great speed one or two longitudinallyextending rolls of one or more turns, or any desired fractions thereof, in continuous strips of deformable sheet material of the types previously indicated, such as lead, brass, copper, steel, alloys thereof and other metal alloys or metallic materials, as well as non-metallic materials havin the desired characteristics adapting them to such curling operations, to form various types of products from curled strips of the selected starting sheet materials, for example, hollow pipe or tubing, tubular welding rod stock having an internal core of powdered metal or suitable flux material, coaxial cable, strands or flux-cored solder, etc., while avoiding the difilculties indicated above; and a unique method of making such products or curling the edges of strips of selected deformable material in the production thereof featured by movement of an edge of the strip while tensed into fixed-position curling means with backing of the strip thereat by convex bed means effectively to keep the strip snugged to the latter.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide such apparatus which in curling up an edge of such strip material takes simple advantage of even a relatively low degree of rigidity transversely to transmit minor compressive forces to hold the strip along a certain path of advance while pushing die means curls up one edge thereof, unique bowing means being provided to cause the travelling strip to stay against a supporting bed during curling operations without buckling or backing away from the die means while making unnecessary use of any engaging hold-down devices which cannot be employed if the strip top surf-ace be'coated with fluid material;

Another object of the present invention is to provide supporting bed meansin such apparatus which may travel with the drafted strip to eliminate frictional difliculties; and which, preferably,'centrally distorts the strip temporarily duringcurling to assure in the curling of both longitudinal edges the formation of uniform or symmetrical rolls.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a unique method of curling or rolling up at least one longitudinal edge of a strip of deform-able sheet material in an unusually simple but efficient manner by moving the strip longitudinally across convex backing means and while doingso applyinglateral pressure or push and lift to that edge progressively to roll it up while lateral strip shift is being restrained, the traveling strip being maintained under tension in the portions having their edges curled, with the tension being of such degree that the components of the resulting force applied to the strip in the direction toward the backing means is greater than components of force in the opposite direction applied to the strip as lift by the rolling operation effectively to keep the strip snugly against the backing means.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth. and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view, with parts broken away, of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is aside elevational view, with parts broken away and in section, of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail, taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2, with parts broken away, of one of the curling die means and associated strip-sup orting bed of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, indicating relative cooperation thereof in curling an edge of a strip of sheet material;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged developed plan view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 indicating progressive curlin-g performed by the plurality of die means thereof;

Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are respectively enlarged cross-sectional views of the progressively curled strip produced by operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, taken substan-. tially on lines 5-5, 6-6, il, 8-8 and 9-9 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view of a fin ished fluxed solder rod or like product resulting from a final drawing through an apertured die of the rolled strip shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a View similar to Fig. 5, with parts broken away, showing a modified form of curling of a strip by operation of another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention incorporating features disclosed in Fig. 14;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 9 of the strip shown in Fig. 11 after being subjected to the final curling operation;

Fig. 13 is a View similar to Fig. 10 showing the double rolled strip of Fig. 12 after it has been drawn through an apertured die to produce a finished commercial product;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged elevational view, with parts broken away, similar to Fig. 3 but indicating variations in the structure thereof for the purpose of producing the product of Figs. 11, 12 and 13; and

Figs. 15, 16 and 1'? are views similar to Figs. 5, 6 and 9 respectively, showing a modifiedform of the product producible with the employment of two juxtaposed strips.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals identify similar parts throughout, embodiments of the apparatus have been illustrated in connection with the production of fiuxed solder rod products to the production of which it may be particularly adapted. However, it will be understood that the use and operation of the apparatus of the present invention and various embodiments thereof is in no way limited to the manufacture of that particular type of product, and may be employed to advantage in curling edges of strip material to form a variety of types of products such as seamed pipe, laminated tubing, rolled beading, etc. It will be seen from the drawings, and more particularly with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, that an embodiment of the present invention may comprise suitable supporting frame structure 25. Frame structure 20 includes a cross beam or angle 2| and an inverted U-shaped bracket 22, laterally spaced apart as shown in Fig. l and respectively supporting journal boxes 23 and 24. The ends of a shaft 25 are rotatably supported by journal boxes 23 and 24, and hub 26 of a relatively large wheel 22' is fixed on the shaft. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, peripherally of the wheel 2'5 is provided a relatively wide flat rim 28 forming an endless rotatable band to serve as a bowed or longitudinally arched supporting bed. The rim 2.8 on one side is equipped with an outwardly-extending radial flange 29 to serve as an abutment, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The frame structure 20 is also provided at the top thereof with a cross plate 39 which supports a plurality of similar angle brackets 3|, 32, 33, 3t and 35 arranged at successive stations of an arcuate path along the top portion of the wheel 27, as best shown in Fig. 2. Each of brackets 3| to 35, inclusive, has bolted thereto a laterallyextending supporting plate 36 which, as will be seen more clearly from Figs. 1 and 3, supports a bracket 3's. The latter has a radially projecting portion 38 serving with plate 36 to support vertically spaced-apart bearings 39 and 48 which may be of the thrust type if desired and as shown. A shaft i! is rotatably mounted through bearings 39 and and carries fixed on its lower end a die roller 42, or other similar die wheel at another station, as hereinafter more fully explained. Of course, bearings 39 and 463 may be of the simple plain type with suitable biasing spring means to urge the die rollers toward the bed surface or wheel rim 28. As will be more readily noted from Fig. 3, die wheel 42 is of the familiar type, having therein a circumferential groove or curved surface as, with an element of the curved surface thereof located on an are having a radius substantially equal to the radius of curvature desired in the first formed turn of the curling. It will also be noted from Fig. 3 that the bottom end 44 of die roller 32 is juxtaposed to the outer surface of bed rim 28, but since, as is indicated, the axis 45 thereof is substantially normal to an .element of the bed surface, it will be understood that at least slight clearance is preferred. However, if the axis &5 be moved 'to the position indicated with a dash-dot line at at, it will be understood that the peripheral edge of the bottom end 45 of die roller 42 may be brought on the inner side to contact with the bed surface of rim 28, so that as the latter is rotated forward the die roller will be rotated therewith by contact to reduce friction between surfaces of the die roller and .of the strip being curled. For this reason, die rollers are preferred, but it will readily be recognized by those skilled in the art that fixed shoes may be used in lieu thereof cases where friction between shoe surfaces and the drafted strip is of no serious moment.

The second, third, fourth and fifth brackets, 32, 33, 34 and 35 respectively support in like manner similar female die rollers 41, 48, 49 and 50, with each having an increasingly larger concave die groove therein to form the successive turns in the roll being curled in the edge of the strip with gradual increase in diameter of the roll as is understood in the art. Such grooves are respectively identified by numerals 52, 53 and 54 and the progressive increase in the diameters of the generating arcs thereof is most readily seen from Fig. 4. Preferably, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, each roller supporting plate 36 is mounted to its supporting angle bracket by means of a bolt 55 extending through an elongated slot 56 in the plate, with a tightening nut 51- on the bolt permitting, when loosened, longitudinal adjustment of each plate. Thus, the die rollers carried by adjustable supporting plates 3636 may be accurately adjusted to their desired positions progressively nearer the wheel abutment flange 29, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the frame structure 20 is equipped with a bracket 58 which supports on the take-off side of bed wheel 21 a drawing die 59 through which the curled roll is to be drawn for desired shaping and/or reduction to the desired cross-sectional size or diameter; and, of course, it will be understood that a plurality of such drawing dies, successively arranged, may be employed for similar purposes. Beyond such drawing die structure, suitable draft means are to be provided, which has not been shown since various forms thereof are well known in the art. Such draft means may, as understood, take the form of a common drive take-up reel, which, when rotated, will apply the necessary draft to the continuous finished product.

Preferably, on the approach side of the bed wheel 21 is rotatably mounted in any suitable manner a guide roller 60 beneath which the strip is located to be fed to the wheel rim 28 at a desired point. There is also preferably provided on the approach side of the bed wheel 21 a slap shoe 6i mounted in any suitable manner so as to snug the strip to the bed surface of the wheel at the desired point. When the apparatus is to be employed for the production of fiuxed solder rod, or the like, a suitable fluid applicator 62 is provided between the first die roller 42 and the slap shoe 6|. For this purpose, a bracket 63 mounted on frame structure 20 may support a well 64 having a transfer roller 65 rotatably mounted therein for partial submergence in a body 66- of liquid or plastic fiux material. A rotatably-supported applicator roller' 61 transfers flux material from the surface of transfer roll 65 to the outer face ofthe strip as it is moved in contact therebeneath.

In operation of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4. inclusive, when employed for the purpose of producing fiuxed solder rod, a suitable strip 68 of deformable and settable sheet solder material which, of course, has some or certain limited rigidity so that it will transmit transversely minor compressive forces thereacross or some push applied laterally to edges thereof, is supplied from any suitable source such as a braked supply reel (not shown). The strip is brought forward, lapped beneath and beyond guide roller 60,.and then up over the top portion of bed wheel 21 with slap shoe 6| snug-;

ging it to the outer surface of wheel rim 28 at take-on station 69, and then successively be neath flux-applying applicator roller 61 at the applicator 62 and past the various curling stations at die rollers 42, 41, 48, 49 and 50, to be drafted off as a rolled product and drawn through shaping die 59 by the driven draft take-up reel. The strip-supporting portion of the rim 28 of fixed-position bed wheel 21 constitutes longitudinally-arched, strip-backing or bed means arrangedilongitudinally in arcuate outline as viewed from the side as distinguished from any transverse or' cross-sectional shaping thereof; and thus defines a fixed route, longitudinally-arched, curved path along which the strip is dragged during the curling of its edges. Such longitudinally-arched bed means is not transported in any direction from its original fixed position during the curling operation, even though by wheel rotation successive arcuate portions of the rim progressively constitute the fixed-position, longitudinally-arched bed means as the curling oper-- ation progresses. As will be seen from Fig. 4, the flux-surfaced strip 68 has one edge 10 thereof abutted or snugged against the inner face of abutment flange 29 and the inner side of the first die roller is arranged in the path of the opposite edge ll of the strip so that as the latter is drawn past it, the concave groove 43 therein may cause edge I I to be lifted away from the supporting surface of bed wheel 27 and turned or curled up approximately through one hundred and eighty degrees as indicated in Fig. 5. At the second die roller 41, the curled portion of edge ll of the coated strip 68 may be further lifted and turned over approximately to complete a three hundred and sixty degree (360) turn, as is indicated in Fig. 6. At the third die roller 48, the curled portion of strip edge (I may be lifted and turned over still further through an additional one hundred and eighty degrees (180), as is indicated in Fig. 7, with the fourth die roller 49 further possibly turning it over one hundred and eighty degrees (180) to complete two complete turns, as shown in Fig. 8. The die roller at 50 further lifts and curls the curled edge H of strip 68 longitudinally to complete, if desired, two and one-half three hundred and sixty degree (360) turns therein to produce the jelly roll product shown in Fig. 9. The curvature of the concave groove 43 in die roller 42, and those of the successive die rollers 41, 4B, 49 and 50, is such as to assure the provision of uniform spacing between successive turns in the curled strip to accommodate the thickness of the coating 12 of flux material applied by doctor roller 61, which is most readily seen from an inspection of Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9. Further, itis to be understood, the successive die rollers may each turn over the strip edge considerably less than one half of a complete turn, if desired, more stages being used to assure the formation of the desired number of complete turns. In such fashion the required pressure on the strip edge can be reduced with less curling being performed at each stake. The curvature of the concave groove in each die roller will govern extent of each curling operation.

The rolled product of Fig. 9 is then drawn through die 59 to draw it down and/or shape it as desired to produce, for example, a fluxed solder rod of a structure similar to that shown at I3 ii -Fig. 10. This drawing causes the edge Ill to be curved by deformation and pressure at 14 to the outer surface of the underlying turn, so as to'seal within the flux material to avoid there- "after, during-any subsequent'drawing down and 7 handling, 'squeeze-outlof flux materialwhich in: teruenes as a coating 12 the successive turns of the. product. It will be readily seen that in this manner, the product rollmay be rapidly formed in a continuous manner.

The outwardly bowed, longitudinally arched or convex supporting bed means which defines a longitudinally arched curved path, as provided by the upper portion of the rim 28. of bed'wheel 21, and the application of some tension tow the: strip. 68 by drag as it is drafted forward, causes. that strip. to. be held snugly against portions of the. outer side of the bedrim means at least at. the curling stations.- and without. any necessityfor any hold-down mechanism. The abutment flange Z9.- assures that the. strip. will be held in.

laterally. back away from the die rollers. as. theysuccessively. push transversely against the strip. curling. up. the free unabutted edge. Due to the fact that the. strip. has. some rigidity. transversely, it will eyen when flat. resist longitudinal huck-.. ling; to. a degree during the curling it only its far edge is snugged up. against abutment. means. Howeuer, ex es ive lateral; pressure would, ofco lrse. tend to buckle. such flat. strip of deform-- able material, longitudinally; i. e., push it up centrally... This. is simply. but uniquely avoidedby drafting the strip. over the. outwardly bowed supporting: becl'provided by the. bed wheel.

Of; course. it. will; be. understood that theout.-v wardly bowed; longitudinally arched or convex bed meansmay be. provided in the formof a fixed convex plate or in the form of an. endless; belt guided through an past. the. curling stations over suitable convex. structure. In any event, a. moying, relatively. fixed-position, supporting. bed means is preferred: over a fixed supporting bed since, in apparatus. featured; by the former, the strip, rides over the longitudinally arched sup-. portingbed means without any sliding actionand thus. without any friction. Althou h it may be. preferred that when thebed-zmeans is in the form of a bed wheel i t be mounted for free: rotation as hereinbefore indicated, itisito be. understood that; the bed. wheel may. bepositively driven. at.

a pee o ass e. a. ate inear travel ofits.

strip e g rled. data. ereby will adapt. the tus o e cur n pe ti ns mak n the.

strip material follow the. contours. of the con; Cave o s. n n? lin ie; o le s withou necessitating; the employment of mating diestg. fo the s p at r a o he-cu lin rooves...

When one of the curling die rollers picks upolf:

lifts y b t e e t e ed e or ion. of thestrip (in other-words pushes it cutaway from t b d. a s: resardlbssq be ri n atio ofthe latter andof thepathoftravel of thestrip) by e a n b fbb ol r; cur i groove, r s. h me al. l ghtly. in e.- he: eiiective diameter ofthe arched or bowedportion of the strip-lifted away from the bedmeans; at;-

ihat b t m g eater h n; e iameter-of. a circular are which liesalong atleast a portion of the bed-defined path; at that point. Consequently, the lifted portion of the strip must stretch enough to correspond to the increased;

circ m r ce. of this; arger. iamete bv uslr. mant send e-ma itime ret h; and.

8 as a, result, accurately followthe contour of the concave groove in the curling die, roller, which is of extreme importance in assuring formation and maintenance of" uniform spacing between successive turns in the product. roll as it is curled up so as to. avoid flow or excessive squeeze-out of coating or flux material.

It. may be understood from the preceding description that. opposite edges of such a strip. may be curled or rolled up simultaneously to provide two. parallel longitudinally-extending rolls in the strip. This is made quite. evident from Figs. 11 to, 14 inclusive, wherein in the. latter is, shown a modified form of bedwheel 121, preferably having a. slightly diiferent. bed rim I28. over which is-arranged the die rollersin opposed pairs. For example, in the form of the; apparatus shown in Fig. 14;, although the bed rim [28: may be developed by a. straight; line.- element. extending parallel to. the. axis of the bed wheel I21, preferably it is dished; that. is, its. outer surface 15 is shaped; n the. form of: a flat v in transverse. section for a. purpose to be more. fully apparent.

in connection with the operation hereinafter decribed.

Each die. roller supporting. bracket. 532 of the embodiment-of Fig. 14: has, as indicatedits flanges arran ed. inthe form. of an. acute angle with each supporting plate 1:35. also preferablybent slight- 1y so. as to. tilt the axisof: each die; roller It? over wardthe midplane indicatedwith a dotted line at 1.6. As a result, the bottom end ms of each, die roller [41? is. lifted away from the outer surface; 15 of. the rim, I28. except: on the innerside at a point of contactat 7:7,.- nearest the; mid plane 16. Thisperrnits die roller I141: toberotated by ctio W l ac ion with; forward. rotation of. hbibed h e I21. thereby elimi atin any p ssibility of; sliding friction. between surfaces of cessivestretching during: the curling. It willbe.

noted from-.Ffig. llthat .preferably'the peripheral edge; of. the bottom end lift of. each die roller M1: ischamfered as-indicated at 78; to accomplish these ends in themostefiicient manner.

It. will be understood of course, that the die roller means. at the various other-curlingstations in the apparatus of lifig; 1,4 will; be; substantial duplicates of: the pair; thereof shown, except for their relatively lateral spacing; accomplished by longitudinal adjustment of, theslmporting. plates I315, I36, and, of c.ourse, with the-practiceof the teachings of Fig. 4 with respect to; the; gradually increasing; sizeof; the curlinggrooves -in thefsucedinsidiero ler i n Op r ti n. of: ppa atus: which empl s opscdr i sb dierbllers as proposed in-Fi 14 for-curling up opposite; edges ofqa; strip-68; it will be understood; ofcourse.that-;one;die;ro11er serves.

as. abutment means forthe-opposed .dieroller durns-cur n perati n by. thelatter, andzvice versa. However, it has beenfoundthatif :thesupporting bedsurfacerbeflatiin a-.transverse direction, there maybe-some tendency. for. thestrip-to be shifted laterally.withiormation of :more turns in one of e: wo b1ls:.than;..in.:.thethen- Thexrelatively.

flat. bane.. .f.: he beasuria eJapreveI-Lts; this aesa'scs undesired action from occurring since, in drafting the deformable strip over the arcuate V-shaped bed, the strip is temporarily deformed io art. For example, the strip may be pulled past any particular die means or die roller, or pair I thereof, under certain tension by power driving transversely to the shape of the bed surface, as is indicated in Fig. '14 and also in Figs. 11 and 12. This slight, temporary deformation of the strip causes it to be held securely in alignment with the central plane 16 during the application of pushing forces against the opposite edges thereof "as they are curled up by operation of the opposed pairs of curling rollers.

The first pair of opposed curling rollers at the -first curling station of the apparatus of Fig. 14 will shape the coated strip 68 substantially in the form shown in Fig. 11. Succeeding pairs of opposed die rollers, generally of the form indicated in Fig. 14, will gradually increase the number of 2, the product will be drawn substantially to the.

form indicated in Fig. 13; i. e., into a cylindrical rod 80, with the various layers of strip solder and intervening films or coatings of flux material substantially arranged as shown in that figure. In such a product, a secure seal is provided along the plane SI of uncoated contacting surfaces so as to seal securely the flux material within the interior of the cylindrical rod. The resulting product has many meritorious features which are outlined in the above identified Crowell and Philippi joint application but which need not be here recited since that product forms no part of the present invention. However, the superior merits of that product do make important the apparatus of the present invention which is so efficiently adapted to produce it in a simple, rapid and economical manner.

As should be now understood, use of embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention are not limited to operation upon single layer strips. For example, as indicated in Figs. 15, 16 and 17, a plural layer strip which may comprise a lamina I68 of solder material, a narrower lamina 268 also of solder material, an intervening layer 72 of flux material, and a topping layer I12 also of flux material, may be curled up together into a double coil, single jelly roll product [13,

with the die roller at the first station forming the turn indicated in Fig. 15, the second die roller at the second station forming the turns indicated in Fig. 16, and the rolled product I13 shown in Fig. 17 being formed at a third station by a third coiled product may be thereafter drawn down into any desired cross-sectional shape. Further, it will be understood that such plural layer strip may be used to make a product similar to that shown in Figs. 12 and 13, with opposite edges of such composite strip curled or rolled up to provide two parallel longitudinally-extending rolls as therein proposed.

Practice of the present invention is not limited to the employment of pulling means beyond the convex bed means to draft the strip thereover and drag means located ahead of the convex bed means to set up the desired tension in the traveling strip. The latter may be tensed in any suitable manner which occurs to one sk lled in the strip-transporting means at the various stations, or by drive of the bed wheel itself with suitable drag applied. For example, the die rolls at the various stations may be power driven at successively increased surface speeds at the successive stations. The power driving of the die rollers or other stripdriving means at the stations should be such that at each station the strip is pulled from a preceding station with the desired tension created to assure that the strip will be kept snugged down on the convex bed means during the curling operations. For example, in a plural curling station apparatus where curling die rolls are positively driven to set up and maintain the necessary tension in the forwardly traveling strip at any three successive stations the die roll means at the second thereof will be driven at a slightly faster surface speed than the die roll means at the first thereof and the die roll means at the third at a slightly faster surface speed than the die roll means at the second. Thus, tension in the strip at that second station to keep the strip there snugged to the convex bed during the curling operation thereat is created by the pull or draft at that third station and relative drag imposed by the slower' surface travel of the die roll means at that first station. In turn the pull or draft at the second station cooperates with drag imposed behind that first station to tense the strip at the latter, and pull or draft imposed beyond that third station cooperates with drag effected by the slower surface travel of the die roll means at that second station to set up the required tension at'the third station. For such purpose the shafts ll-M of the die rolls of the embodiments of the apparatus shown by way of example in the drawings can be mechanically connected to powered driving means in any suitable manner readily apparent to one skilled in the art, such as by suitable conventional trains of gears (not shown). They can be driven at the same rotary speeds with the increased surface speeds at the successive stations attained by decrease in diameter of the die rolls, with the smaller diameter die roll being located at the first station and those at the other stations being progressively larger.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above and those made apparent from the preceding description are eificiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shallbe interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood'that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

'Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for curling longitudinal edges of substantially fiat strips of deformable and settable sheet material comprising, in combination. means arranged longitudinally in arcuate outline as viewed from the side as distinguished from any transverse shaping thereof and forming a longitudinally-arched strip-supporting and back- .ing bed means defining a fixed route, longitudinally-arched curved path, means to draft such strip longitudinally over said arcuately arranged arched bed means along the fixed route curved path, means to apply drag to the drafted strip as it is moved along the fixed route curved path to impose thereon some longitudinal tension with support by said bed means, and die means substantially fixedly located at at last one position along one side of the fixed route curved path in the path of forwardtravel of one edge of the tensed strip into which said edge is to .be forwardly moved, said die means being shaped to apply lateral push and lift to that edge .as it is moved forward thereinto to curl it back upon the body of the tensed strip as the latter is drafted forward and supported at that position by the backing bed means, and means substantially to prevent lateral shift of said strip on said bed means as said die means applies lateral push to that edge.

2. Apparatus for curling longitudinal edges of substantially fiat strips of deformable and settable sheet material having at least certain limited rigidity so as to transmit transversely some push applied laterally to edges thereof comprising, in combination, means arranged longitudinally in arcuate outline as viewed from the side as distinguished from any transverse shaping thereof and forming a longitudinally-arched strip-supporting and backing bed means defining a fixed route, longitudinally-arched curved path, means to draft such strip longitudinally over said arcuately arranged arched bed means along the fixed route curved path, meansto apply drag to the drafted strip as it is moved along the fixed route curved path to impose thereon some longitudinal tension with support by said bed means, die means substantially fixedly located at at least one position along one side of the fixed route curved path in thepath ,of forward travel of one edge of the tensed strip into which said edge is to be forwardly moved, said die means being shaped to apply lateral push and lift to that edge as it is moved forward thereinto'to curl it back upon the body of the tensed strip as the latter is drafted forward and supported at that position by the backing bed means, and means on the opposite side of the fixed route curved path against which the opposite edge of the tensed strip may, abut to resist transverse strip motion during edge curling.

3. Apparatus for curling longitudinal edges of substantially flat strips of deformable and settable sheet material having at least certain limited rigidity so as to transmit transversely some push applied laterallyto edges thereof comprising, in combination, means arranged longitudinally in arcuate outline as viewed from the side as distinguished from any transverse shaping thereof and forming a longitudinally-arched strip-supporting and backing bed means defining a fixed route, longitudinally-arched curved path, means to draft such strip longitudinally over said arcuately arranged arched bed means along the fixed route curvedpath, means to apply drag to the drafted strip as it is moved along the fixed route curved path to impose thereon some longitudinal tension with support by said bed means, die means substantially fixedly located at at least one position along one side of the fixed route curved path in the path ,of forward travel of one edge of thetensed strip into which saidedge is to be forwardly moved, said die means being shaped to apply lateral push'and lift to that edge as it is moved forward. thereinto to curl it back .upon the body of the tensed strip as the latter is drafted forward and supported at that position by the backing bed means, and other similar die means on the opposite side of the fixed route curved path in the path of forward travel of the opposite edge of the tensed strip also to curl the latter edge back upon the strip body with die means on one side serving as abutment means for die means on the other side to resist transverse strip motion during edge curlmg.

4. Apparatus for curling longitudinal edges of substantially flat strips of deformable and settable sheet material having at least certain limited rigidity so as to transmit transversely some push applied laterally to edges thereof comprising, in combination, a rotatable endless bed guided in motion along a substantially fixed route convex path provided bya portion of said bed, means to draft such a strip over said bed along the fixed route convex path, means to apply drag to said strip as it is drafted over said bed to impose thereon some longitudinal tension with support by said bed and with bed motion avoiding relative motion between it and the tensed strip, and die means substantially fixedly located at at least one position along one side of the fixed route convex path in the path of forward travel of one edge of the tensed strip into which said edge is to be forwardly moved, said die means being shaped to apply lateral push and lift to that edge as it is moved forward there into to curl it back upon the body of the strip as the latter is drafted forward under tension while being supported at that position by the underlying bed means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 characterized by rotatable wheel-like means the rim of which serves as the endless bed.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said lateral shift-preventing means comprises additional means provided on the opposite side of the fixed route curved path against which the opposite edge of the strip may abut to resist transverse strip motion during edge curling.

7. Apparatus. as defined in claim 4 in which there is provided additional similar die means on the opposite side .of the fixed route curved path to curl up in like manner the opposite edge of the strip with either die means on one side serving to resist transverse strip motion during edge curling on the opposite side.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 characterized by rotatable wheel-like means the rim of which serves as the endless bed and in which said lateral shift-preventing means comprises additional means provided on the opposite side of the fixed route curved path against which the opposite edge of the strip may abut to resist transverse strip motion during edge curling.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 character ized by rotatable wheel-like means the rim of which serves as the endless bed and in which there is provided additional similar die means on the opposite'sideof the fixed route curved path to curl up inlike manner the opposite edge of the strip with either die means on one side serving to resist transverse'strip motion during edge curling on the opposite side.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the bed means in the fixed route curved path portion thereof'is provided at that die means position with'an outer strip-contacting surface that is slightly V-shaped in a transverse direction to 13 prevent the tensioned strip while being drafted thereover from tending to shift laterally with unequal resistance to lateral push applied at opposite edges thereof.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the bed in the fixed route curved path portion thereof is provided with an outer strip-contacting surface that is slightly trough-shaped to prevent the tensioned strip while being drafted thereover from tending to shift laterally with unequal resistance to lateral push applied at opposite edges thereof.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the bed in the fixed route curved path portion thereof is provided with an outer strip-contacting surface that is slightly V-shaped transversely to cause a tensioned strip while being drafted thereover to assume a like V-shape to prevent lateral shifting thereof with unequal resistance to lateral push applied at opposite edges of the strip during curling.

13.Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which there is provided additional similar die means on the opposite side of the fixed route curved path to curl up in like manner the opposite edge of the strip with either die means on one side serving to resist transverse strip motion during edge curling on the opposite side and in which the bed in the curved path portion thereof is provided with an outer strip-contacting surface that is slightly V-shaped transversely to cause a tensioned strip while bein drafted thereover to assume a like V-shape to prevent lateral shifting thereof with unequal resistance to lateral push applied at opposite edges of the strip during curling.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 characterized by rotatable wheel-like means the rim of which serves as the endless bed with the rim having its outer strip-contacting surface slightly V- shaped transversely to cause a tensioned strip while being drafted thereover to assume a like V- shape to prevent lateral shifting, and in which there is provided additional similar die means on the opposite side of the curved path to curl up in like manner the opposite edge of the strip with either die means on one side serving to re sist transverse strip motion during edge curling on the opposite side.

15. Apparatus for curling longitudinal edges of substantially fiat strips 'of deformable and settable sheet material having at least certain limited rigidity so as to transmit transversely some push applied laterally to edges thereof comprising, in combination, a rotatable wheel of relatively large diameter mounted for free rotation on a substantially horizontal axis, a rim for said wheel in the form of a circular band substantially coaxial with the axis of said wheel and provided with a radially extending abutment fiange on one side thereof, means to draft a continuous strip of the type indicated over said rim at the top portion of said wheel, means to apply drag to the drafted stripto impose tension thereon as it is drafted over said rim, and a plurality of die rollers mounted along the path of the rim at the top portion of said wheel to the side opposite said abutment flange progressively to curl up one edge of the tensed strip as the opposite edge thereof is abutted against said fiange.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 in which means are provided to apply liquid material to the outer face of the strip at a station preceding said die rollers.

17. Apparatus for curling longitudinal edges of substantially fiat strips of deformable and settable sheet material having at least certain limited rigidity so as to transmit transversely some push applied laterally to edges thereof comprising, in combination, a rotatable wheel of relatively large diameter mounted for free rotation, a rim for said wheel in the form of a circular path having its outer strip-contacting surface slightly V shaped transversely, and a plurality of opposed pairs of die rollers mounted along an arcuate portion of the path of the rim to opposite sides of the plane through the outer rim surface where the latter is of less diameter with the die rollers in each pair in the direction of forward travel of the strip being successively closer together progressively to curl up the opposite edges of the strip as it is drafted forward over the top portion of said wheel. p

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17 characterized by mounting of the die rollers radially beyond the strip-contacting surface of said rim with the peripheral edge of the inner end of each die roller contacting the rim surface for rotation of the former by the latter during draft of the strip on said wheel with rotation of the latter.

' 19. Apparatus as defined in claim 17 in which the die rollers are mounted above the rim along a top portion of said wheel with each mounted for rotation about an axis extending outwardly toward the mentioned plane at an angle to the strip-contacting surface of the rim less than ninety degrees to cause the periphery of the bottom end of each die roller on the inner side thereof nearest the mentioned plane to contact the rim surface for forward friction wheel rotation thereof as said wheel is rotating with forward draft of the strip.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 1'? in which the die rollers are mounted above the rim with each mounted for rotation about an axis extending outwardly toward the mentioned plane at an angle to the strip-contacting surface of the rim less than ninety degrees (90) to cause the periphery of the bottom end of each die roller on the inner side thereof nearest the mentioned plane to contact the rim surface for forward friction wheel rotation thereof as said wheel is rotating with forward draft of the strip, and in which applicator means is provided to apply fluid material to the outer face of the strip at a station preceding said pairs of die rollers.

21. A method of curling longitudinal edges of substantially fiat strips of deformable and settable sheet material having at least certain limited rigidity so as to transmit transversely some push applied laterally to edges thereof comprising moving such a strip forward under tension longitudinally along a fixed route, longitudinallyarched curved path defined by strip-supporting, longitudinally-arched backing bed means ar ranged longitudinally in arcuate outline as viewed from the side a distinguished from any transverse shaping thereof, and drawing an edge of said strip during its tensed motion into fixedposition laterally offset curling means to apply lateral push and lift to that edge to curl it up while preventing lateral shift of said strip with the tension therein maintaining the uncurled portion snugly against said bed means at said curling means position. i

22. A method of curling longitudinal edges of substantially fiat strips of deformable and settable sheet material having at least certain limited rigidity so as to transmit transversely some push applied laterally to edges thereof comprising bowing such a strip outward and moving it forward longitudinally along a fixed route, longitudinally-arched. curved. path, backing said travelling strip by longitudinally-arched means arranged longitudinally in arcuate outline as viewed from the side as distinguished from any trans verse shaping of the latter and which defines said longitudinally-arched path, intercepting an edge of said travelling strip with fixed-position pushing and lifting curling means located along said path to apply lateral push and lift to that edge to curl the latter up on itself away from said backing means, restraining at said curling means lateral lift of that portion of the strip which is not being curled, and applying and maintaining tension in said travelling strip at said curling means to restrain lift of its uncurled portion away from said backing means.

23. A method of curling up a longitudinal edge of a substantially flat deformable and settable strip comprising moving said strip longitudinally across convex backing means, applying lateral push and lift away from said backing means to that edge to roll it up off of said backing means progressively during travel of said strip across said backing means with restraint of lateral strip shift, and maintaining said strip under tension during its travel across said backing means with the components of the resulting force applied to said strip as a whole in the direction toward said backing means being greater than components of force in the opposite direction applied to said strip as lift by the rolling operation to maintain the strip as a whole snugged against said backing means during rolling.

24. The method as defined in claim 23 characterized by creation of the tension in said strip by pulling it forward in opposition to forces of drag applied thereto.

25. The method as defined in claim 24 characterized by moving the strip-contacting surface of said backing means forward with travel of said strip to minimize relative motion therebetween.

26. The method as defined in claim 23 charac terized by simultaneous progressive rolling up of opposite edges of said travelling tensed strip with lateral strip shift being restrained by the lateral pressure applied on opposite sides thereof during the rolling operations.

27. Apparatus for curling longitudinal edges of substantially flat strips of deformable and settable sheet material having at least certain limited rigidity so as to transmit transversely some push applied laterally to edges thereof; comprising, in combination; relatively fixed position, strip-supporting means arranged longitudinally in arcuate outline as viewed from the side as distinguished. from any transverse shaping thereof and forming an elongated, longitudinally-arched,

backing bedmeans defining a fixed route, longitudinally arched, curved path; means to draft such strip longitudinally over said arcuately arranged, longitudinally arched bed means along the fixed route curved path defined by the latter; means to apply drag to the drafted strip as it is moved along the fixed route curved path defined by said bed means to impose on said strip some longitudinal tension and snug it up to said longitudinally arched bed means for backing support by the latter, the draft and drag means being adapted to apply to the bed-backed portion of said strip as it travels longitudinally across said fixed-position, longitudinally arched, elongated bed means their opposing forces angularly with respect to each other to cause that strip portion to be bowed against said longitudinally arched bed means to the fixed route curved path defined by the latter; and a plurality'of successivelyarranged pairs of fixed-position die rollers located at successive stations along said fixed route curved path with those of each pair being located on opposite sides of the curved path in the paths of forward travel of the two edges of the tensed strip into which said edges are to be forwardly moved, said die rollers being shaped to apply opposed lateral push and simultaneous lift to those strip edges as the latter are moved forward into said die rollers progressively to curl those ed es up toward each other back upon the main body of the tensed strip as the latter is drafted forward and supported at said stations b the backing bed means, the rollers of said pairs being transversely spaced closer together progressively in the direction of travel of such tensed strip to accommodate the progressive narrowing of the strip as its edges are progressively curled up to assure curling action at each of the succeeding stations on partially curled strip edges.

GEORGE J. PHILIPPI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 315,626 Jackson Apr. 14, 1885 841,838 Williams Jan. 22, 1907 909,644 McCloud Jan. 12, 1909 1,043,832 Herr Nov. 12, 1912 1,203,090 Yoder Oct. 31, 1916 2,038,600 Quarnstrom Apr. 28, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 462,634 Great Britain Mar. 12, 1937 

